The best thrillers of 1981

25 thrillers from 1981, ranked by a 0–100 score from IMDb ratings, critics, major awards and box office, compared with every film from the same year.

1. Absence of Malice Score 59.3 · IMDb 6.9 · Tomatometer 82% · Metascore 64
2. For Your Eyes Only Score 57.3 · IMDb 6.7 · Tomatometer 69% · Metascore 54
3. Eye of the Needle Score 52.5 · IMDb 7.1 · Tomatometer 85% · Metascore 61
4. Southern Comfort Score 51.0 · IMDb 7.1 · Tomatometer 81% · Metascore 63
5. Scanners Score 45.1 · IMDb 6.7 · Tomatometer 69% · Metascore 60
6. Ms .45 Score 44.8 · IMDb 6.8 · Tomatometer 86% · Metascore 62
7. Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker Score 41.1 · IMDb 6.3 · Tomatometer 93% · Metascore 71
8. Road Games Score 39.0 · IMDb 6.6 · Tomatometer 92% · Metascore 71
9. Nighthawks Score 38.0 · IMDb 6.3 · Tomatometer 71% · Metascore 56
10. Wolfen Score 36.8 · IMDb 6.3 · Tomatometer 72% · Metascore 64